ComScore: Computer usage falls as 20% of millennials go mobile-only

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A decade ago, almost all web browsing was happening on desktop and laptop computers. The explosion in smartphone popularity has rapidly changed the dynamic, and older predictions may have underestimated the impact. According to new report from comScore, computer use is dropping off quickly as mobile devices encourage new types of interaction. In fact, many younger people don’t use computers at all, instead relying entirely upon their smartphones.

The conventional wisdom a few years ago was that desktop usage (desktop meaning both “desktop” and “laptop” PCs) would level off or grow at a slower rate in the face of mobile device adoption. However, the trends aren’t following that model. The data gathered by comScore points to substantial year-over-year drops in desktop usage. In December 2015, desktop Internet use was down 9.5% compared with the previous year. In January 2016 it was down 7.6%. February and March of this year were better at 2% and 6% down, but the trend looks to be continuing.

In addition to the comScore data, The Wall Street Journal notes that it saw desktop traffic peak back in March of 2015 (567 billion total minutes of desktop web usage). Since then, the trend has been negative. At the same time, mobile use is up dramatically with more than one trillion total minutes of activity last month. comScore’s report estimates that mobile accounts for 65% of digital media time, and apps make up 56% of it. By far the most startling statistic from the comScore data is that one in five millennials (defined as being aged 18-34) don’t even use desktops anymore.

What this really points to is that a lot of casual browsing is migrating from the PC to mobile devices. It seemed at first that PCs were remaining steady, but that was probably because mobile devices simply weren’t good enough yet. Advances in hardware and software mean there are fewer times you have to put the phone away and find a “real” computer to accomplish something.

It’s possible the screen in your pocket is the highest resolution display in your house, and the processor running it is probably faster than the laptop you were using a decade ago. It all adds up to a device that fits in your hand and manages most basic computing tasks with ease. For many non-technical people, that’s enough to replace a computer. We’re still a long way from smartphones and tablets being as powerful as a desktop when it comes to getting work done, but not everyone needs that kind of power.

It’s easy to draw the line between what is “mobile” and “desktop” right now, but in the future that might not be so simple. Apple is pushing the iPad and keyboard dock as a viable laptop alternative with custom tablet software. Meanwhile, Google has the Pixel C, Chrome OS, and Android apps running in the Android Runtime for Chrome. Nvidia has even made desktop gaming work on its Shield devices via GeForce Now.

It’s not over for traditional PC’s, though. Desktops and laptops remain essential in business, and it’ll be a long time before that changes. The growth of power-hungry virtual reality also means full desktop PCs with beefy video cards will remain an important part of future computing.

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Why do you think it’s sad? Just sort of a logical evolution, we now take computing with us.

jdwii

Cause the more people who use a certain device can hurt other markets when it comes to products coming out for it. Smart phones and tablets are only good for extremely basic things now i’m happy they exist since i use them every day but using my I7 with a SSD during web browsing and other tasks over my nexus reminds me why i love PCs more tablets and smartphones feel slower.

Smart phones and tablets can today do everything most consumers will ever want or need, and they’re much harder to screw up than any desktop operating system. That means less friends and relatives asking for help. That part is good right? ;)

jdwii

Well i easily agree with that its a better option for people who know little about technology, working with unix i sometimes forget that some people think Windows is even hard lol

It’s funny I have the latest MacBook Pro i7 16Gb RAM and I *still* find myself in bed surfing on my iPhone more often than not. Not sure why, but clearly, I’m not the only one!

Qwertywitter

While it is nice to be able to get things done on a smartphone, it simply doesn’t compare to how much you can get done on a computer. But I guess I am not really an average user, as I use my computer for codings, writting reports, gaming, browing, and much much more. Most people just don’t need the power of a high end pc or the high speed interface.(Keyboard and mouse.)

We are definitely close to the point in which they will be replaced though. Just imagine how powerful mobile devices will be in 10 or 20 years, especially with more efficient and energy dense power sources. Not to mention that we might come up with a new interface in that time.(plug a usb cable into the back of the neck, or something sci-fi like that.)

But a tablet or phone does all the majority of people want or need it to do. That’s the paradigm shift.

Kojen Ku

Do they use photoshop on their phones? Do they create 3D games on their phones? Do they crunch the next financial products on their phones? Of course they don’t as they are the content consumers, not content creators. There is a big difference between these types. This report is misleading and useless.

Javier Martinez

What do you think the majority of users are, content producers or consumers? I think you know the answer very well (the latter in case there’s any confusion) so why are you surprised on the report that you call it misleading and useless? There’s a reason laptop and desktop (PC) sales are on the decline. Eventually they will hit a plateau helped by people like you that do need such devices.

I found it very valuable, it’s interesting to get your own usage paterns validated. A modern phone and an unlimited data connection is all most of us need. I’m sitting in a park with my dog as I’m writing this. Better than being stuck at home right?

Javier Martinez

I agree. I used to get the latest and greatest desktop for gaming but lately as my gaming has waned somewhat I’ve found myself spending more time on the phone and more recently with my Surface Pro 4 (for some light gaming) than my desktop. I still use the desktop at home for certain things but they’re far in between. PCs will never die but they won’t be the default tool they once were. Instead I like to think they’ll be the supercomputer for the masses.

Yes, they use Photoshop on their phone. Or at least Photoshop Express. I’d bet that more people use photo editing apps than desktop photo editing software. Photoshop Express has more than 50 million downloads on Google Play, and it’s not the most successful photo editor. Others have hundreds of millions downloads.

Qwertywitter

I can’t even imagine how slow using such software on a phone would be compared to working at a desktop computer.

ET3D

Yes. It’s that lack of imagination of PC users part which fuels these arguments. :)

But seriously, it’s an interesting question, and later, if I remember, I’ll install Photoshop Express on my tablet and test it. My guess is that for what I imagine most people would use, which is red eye reduction, colour balance, sharpening, simple effects, a PC would do that very quickly and a phone a little less quickly but quickly enough to not bother anyone. I’m guessing that the main limitation will be RAM speed rather than processing speed. Far as I know most OEM’s bastardise laptops by selling them with single channel RAM, so I’m not sure average PC’s have a huge advantage there.

ET3D

I installed Photoshop Express and Lightroom on my tablet. They both seem very limited. I’m guessing that Photoshop Express has about 1% of the functionality of Photoshop. Then again, that’s probably that 1% that 90% of people need.

As for performance, preview is in real time, at lower resolution, then it takes about a second to apply. So not that bad. And that tablet is much weaker than a current flagship phone.

darkich

HA!
I’m not using desktops and laptops for many years now, and I don’t miss it.
This is evolution at its finest – efficiency always wins over power.
And pc-loving dinosaurs will finally have to take their heads out of the boxes (pun intended)

Cenzo

How do you get any work done? Oh, let me guess…

Qwertywitter

When comparing a desktop/laptop to a smartphone, the most efficient way to work is at the desktop/laptop. How many words per minute would you say you can type out on a smartphone? And does it come even close to my 100-120 words per minute? I use smartphones as well as personal computers, but I refuse to try and get anything but the most basic things done on a smartphone, as doing anything complex will take much longer on a smartphone than on a computer.

darkich

I don’t need computer for doing my work. I need computer for selling my work, and for media, Internet, communication, and some casual gaming..like most people. And it’s more efficient to use a palmtop for that

HookTink Furrble

Has anyone heard the saying, “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see”?
The P.C. is dead again, and again, and again just like various marketing Cos. haw been saying fort the last 25 years.
W.P.

I think the author is just saying what we are all seeing, that a desktop computer is increasingly for productivity, gaming, etc. and less so general browsing.

dc

It’s a matter of economics as much as anything. People have X amount of free capital. What are they going to spend it on? A PC, which is useful, is at least $1000.00 dollars. So this causes problems.

jdwii

???? A PC that cost 400$ is more powerful then any smartphone. A 400$ PC can have a 6 core FX or I3 PC with a 360X or so. Phones themselves cost 600$ for flagship phones.

dc

I think you are confusing power with utility. Sure I can buy a much more powerful PC for $400.00 dollars (not counting two hundred more to make it work for things like monitor, wires, mouse, keyboard). But what does it do for me? I’m not going to be playing top games on it. I’m mostly going to use it to type and surf the internet. Now I admit, typing on a phone isn’t really functional for much, but I can still surf the net, message people, take pictures, stream live video, make phone calls, play simple games, etc…. Which is quite a bit. The PC can’t do all that. I’m certainly not going to walk around streaming live video on my PC….

Now with a good tablet and a keyboard I can take notes and do most of the stuff the PC can do. Its certainly enough for taking notes and surfing the net. Sure it won’t be as “powerful” but it has all the utility, plus its easy to tote around and doesn’t need any accessories except a keyboard.

To have a gaming PC, I need to lay out $800-$1000, plus extra for the other stuff. And mostly likely, I will STILL need a phone. For $1k i could buy a good phone and the tablet and still have some left over. Or I could go a payment plan and get a top phone. You can do everything on a $350 dollar phone that you can do on a $600 dollar one. Whereas a $400 dollar PC definitely can’t touch a 1k PC. So the utility just isn’t there in the low end PCs. Just because they are more powerful, does not mean that they are nearly as useful.

jdwii

How does this site attract so many people who do not understand that a gaming desktop will not cost that much? Its more the fact that people want that. If i was linus or the tek i’d go a month on a 400$ gaming PC and i bet it could easily play games at medium at 1080P.

Anyways i do agree i love my tablet but i will never give up my PC, i can easily tell the difference in speed. If i was given a 1200$ budget and i had no smartphone or tablet or desktop i’d buy a 200$ phone(good ones are out their for that) and i’d spend the rest on my desktop or if on the go labtop.

Jeremy Garcia

I think you are confusing convenience with utility. I saw this as an owner of an HTC One M8, a flagship phone, who primarily uses their phone for internet and media consumption, I spend way more time doing the same things on my computer(s) because of the functionality and utility. Sure, I can’t stream video on the go with my desktop, but on the same token, there is something to be said about a 34″ monitor and the comfort of my lounge chair – which is why I binge-watch my favorite Netflix shows on my desktop and go for a Harry Potter Marathon for 27 hours straight. Less neck kinks that way. Desktop sites are still more functional, and a pointing device is necessary – it frustrates me to no end to have a have website with menus that activate via hovering only which makes them practically inaccessible on a smartphone. Sure you attach a keyboard to a mobile device, but I will still type way more efficiently (faster and more accurately) on my laptop, much less my desktop with a mechanical keyboard. I also still have a fully functioning office suite, which you still can’t quite claim on mobile OSes yet. BTW, my gaming desktop cost me over $1300 in 2011 and is still capable of playing the latest games at a decent detail level. Factor in an extra $250 for a GPU upgrade. Since then, you don’t want to know how many flagship smartphones I’ve through – Samsung Moment, HTC Hero, HTC Evo 4G, Samusng Epic 4G, Samsung Galaxy Note II, and there is my current my HTC One M8, which will upgraded to a Nexus 6P by the end of this week. My computer has largely stayed the same – so I’ve paid more for my phones than my computers. I also got my laptop (Thinkpad X220) second-hand for $130. I have a second X220 ( which I’m typing this comment on) that I got for free because the previous owner dropped it and couldn’t repair it – both of which receive more action than my phone in regards to web browsing and video streaming. Again, it’s a convenience factor – if I’m on a break at work, the phone works fun, but if I’m a cafe, or at home, you bet it’s a computer I’m doing my leisurely activities on.

SumYunGai

The thing I worry about is that servers and desktops have driven the advances in computing power. With less demand for higher end computing power, advances will be slower. Casual browsing definitely works on my phone, but when I need to do real work, the computer wins every time.

jdwii

Safe to say its been more about power efficiency now

SumYunGai

I agree, and that’s definitely a good thing. But as someone who still needs a computer, and remembers the joy of doing upgrades that doubled my computing power, I will miss those days. Although I am glad that my 2 and a half year old computer is still capable of doing plenty of heavy lifting.

jdwii

Agreed i guess some just don’t get the point of us wanting the best performance!

Brandon Shorter

Eh yeah those people are usually the one who kill technological evolution , None of these things would exist without a demand for high preformance . Or more data . It kinda like people who went well 22 mhz is enough nope will need need more than 1 KB that tend to make up the majority of people .

Gaming PC sales are on the rise. That isn’t going to change anytime soon and not just because of VR.

me me

The totals mask a few major trends.

– Population growth. Many enter as mobile-only consumers.

– Device proliferation. The total amount of devices has grown and individuals moved from none to 1 to multiple devices.

– TL;DR generation. The TV and Internet generation move from considered deeper thought with debate, into rapid 1-second opinions and move on.

font9a

Well then… Millennials better start learning to content create: written pieces, code, images, sound, movies on their phones because the world is sure going to be a boring place when it’s just reposts and retweets of the same old. When it’s time to go out of mom and dad’s basement and get a real job companies are going to want you to start knowing how to create presentations, analyze your own data, and visualize it so that others may too.

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